Disclaimer: I don't own CSI. That's why I work for a living.

Chapter 4

Sara sat, curled into the corner of her couch, staring into space. Her head was hurting and her stomach rolling with nausea. Why did they think it was okay to bring up stuff like that? The trial was supposed to be about Ecklie, not her. How could something that happened more than twenty years before have anything to do with her testimony today? Eventually, she got up and headed to her bedroom.Dropping her clothes in a pile by the bed, she crawled naked between the sheets and lay staring at the clock.

Sara drifted into a restless sleep that was plagued with dreams of her childhood and the death of her father. She awoke a few hours later with her heart racing and sweat coating her body. For a moment she lay still trying to figure out what was missing. Then she remembered sending Grissom away. His arms would have been very welcome in her current state. She couldn't put into words the nightmare that had awakened her. There was just a pervading sense of doom that she couldn't escape. With a sigh she headed to the shower to get ready for work.

Sara arrived at the lab about thirty minutes before the start of her shift. She stowed her belongings and went to the break room for coffee. Nick and Warrick were there, laughing at some story Warrick had just told. Greg wandered in and headed for the coffee pot.

"Hey, Sara, how's it going?" Greg asked.

"It's good," Sara said. Her wan smile made a lie of her words.

Greg gave her a long look. He was trying to decide if he should call her on her lie. Realizing that he would be risking the wrath of Sara, he let it slide. Turning around he said, "Hey guys, what's so funny?"

"Nothing man," Warrick said.

"Oh, come on," Nick said, choking back his laughter, "why don't you tell Greg about your run in with Tina's ex?"

"Run in with Tina's ex?" Greg's eyes werealive withcuriousityand a goofy grin split his face. "What happened?"

"Well, I went by the clinic to take Tina to lunch…" Warrick started his story and Sara tuned out. Her mind was back in her apartment going over her conversation with Grissom. What had she been thinking when she told him to leave? She stood suddenly and headed for Grissom's office. She owed him an apology and didn't want to wait another minute.

Sara took a step inside Grissom's office and stopped in her tracks. Grissom was sitting in his chair, leaning back, with his chin resting on his clasped hands. Perched right beside him on the corner of his desk was Sofia. Since Ecklie's dismissal Sofia had been brought back to the lab as swing shift supervisor. Why she would be sitting on Grissom's desk was something Sara couldn't begin to understand. As Sara stood there, unobserved, Grissom said something that had Sofia throwing her head back and laughing loudly.

"Oh goodness, Grissom, you say the funniest things." Sofia slipped off the desk and took a step closer to Grissom. He looked up at her and gave a half hearted smile.

"I try," he responded. At the sound of a throat clearing, he looked up at saw Sara standing in the doorway. "Hey Sara," Grissomfrowned at the thunderous look on her face.

"Hey, um, can you excuse us Sofia?" Sara said politely.

"Oh, hi Sara," Sofia said. She made no move to put any distance between Grissom and herself. A smirk played around her mouth at the site of Sara's discomfort. "Can it wait just a minute? We were right in the middle of something."

Sara glanced from Grissom to Sofia and back before she said, "Sure. Gris, I need to talk to you later."

Even after she had disappeared from the doorway Grissom was still trying to say something to let her know that she didn'thave to leave. Pushing his chair back, Grissom stood. "Was there something else you needed Sofia?" When Sofia shook her head no, Grissom said, "Then, if you'll excuse me…" He was already moving around her and out the door.

He found Sara in the locker room sitting on a bench. She had her elbows on her knees, head buried in her hands. Walking over to take a seat beside her, Grissom said, "Sara?" When he didn't get an answer he laid his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. "Hey," he whispered. She raised her head and looked at Grissom. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The pain in her eyes took Grissom's breath. He slid closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her to him. "Please tell me what this is about," Grissom said quietly.

"I'm mad with myself." Sara's voice was choked with tears. She scrubbed angrily at her eyes and hung her head, unable to look at Grissom.

"Why would anybody be mad with you?" Grissom said, giving her a soft smile to offset the teasing note in his voice. "I can't imagine you doing anything to cause that."

Sara gave a half-hearted smile and said, "I don't like jealous people. I especially don't like it when I'm one of those people."

"Jealous? Jealous of what?" Grissom asked, truly puzzled.

"Sofia." The disgust Sara put into the name made Grissom's smile reappear.

"Why in the world would you be jealous of Sofia?" Grissom wanted to know.

"My God, Gris, are you blind?" Sarcasm dripped from Sara's voice and she stared at him in disbelief. Finally she shook her head and said, "You really don't see it do you?" When Grissom continued to look slightly befuddled Sara elaborated. "The woman wants you. Bad. I can't believe you don't realize this."

"Sara, I don't think that Sofia is interested in me beyond a professional level." Sara's snort caused Grissom to study her face. He said sincerely, "I only see you. I wouldn't notice if she were running around naked."

"You are such a sweet talker," Sara smiled through the tears still trickling down her cheeks. She brought her hand up to cup his cheek in a gesture that was familiar to them both. "I am so sorry about this afternoon. I shouldn't have asked you to leave."

"You needed to be alone," Grissom said quietly, hoping to disguise the hurt he had felt.

Sara's eyes roamed over his face, missing nothing. "Gris," she whispered before bringing her mouth to his in a gentle kiss. Pulling back, she said, "I was hurt and needed some time to lick my wounds. I found out that I don't like hurting alone. I missed you."

"I'm glad." He smiled and added, "I could have told you that you would."

"Oh really," Sara pulled back a little and grinned at him. "You knew I would miss you?"

"Yeah. I knew because I was lonely." Grissom pulled Sara to him and held her tightly.

The door creaking open startled them and they jumped apart just as Nick stuck his head around the corner. "Gris, are you doing assignments tonight?" he asked trying to hide his grin.

"Uh…of course. Just give me a minute. I'll meet you in the break room." Grissom stammered a little as he felt the blush rise in his cheeks. He glanced at Sara and noticed that her color was a little high too.

"Sure thing, boss," Nick said with a grin. "I'll hold the fort." With that he let the door close behind him leaving his two favorite geeks alone.

Grissom held out his hand to Sara and helped her up. "Come on, Ms. Sidle. Let's go to work. I need to get tonight over with quickly."

"Why? Got a hot date?" Sara asked with a hint of flirtation in her voice.

"I can always hope." Grissom reached up and brushed a strand of hair off Sara's cheek. Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, "I love you."

"I love you too," Sara said just a little louder.

They left the locker room. Grissom went to collect the assignments. Sara headed for the break room to wait for him.